Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 135 A Letter Delivered by a Wild Goose to Leizhou (Thanks to 99927 for the generous donation!)
Shang Xiuxun caught up with Zhou Yi and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

If I had spoken slower, he might have already caught up with me, and might even have attacked me.

Seeing the somewhat disheveled appearance of the dark figure, and then looking at the young man beside him, he felt relieved, but also felt that this was not quite right.

"The shadowy figure you mentioned earlier, was he him?"

"Ah."

Zhou Yi was still looking towards the back mountain: "This person was acting suspiciously. I thought he was an assassin who wanted to harm you, but I didn't expect you to know him."

After saying that, he turned to look at the beautiful owner of the venue.

She placed one hand to her lips, her expression somber, and gazed into the distance.

"Who is he?"

When Shang Xiuxun saw him looking at her, she spat and said, "He's a heartless old man. Just mentioning him makes me feel disgusted."

My mind drifted back to those past events, and to my mother's sorrow and suffering over the years.

Her expression turned even worse.

However, after a long while without a response, I looked up and saw that his brows were furrowed in a cold expression, as if he was deep in thought.

Shang Xiuxun was still upset, but she cared about his feelings: "Why are you suddenly unhappy?"

Zhou Yi pointed to the back mountain of the Bird Garden: "It's because of this person."

"Why?"

“This man is skilled in martial arts. Seeing you in such a predicament, you are probably being coerced by him. He is indeed a troublesome person. In that case, I will drive him down the mountain for you, and that will be the end of it, so that you will not have any more trouble in the future.”

Shang Xiuxun felt that he was impulsive and somewhat unreliable, but she also thought that his actions were out of concern.

Amidst mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, she quickly reached out and tugged at his sleeve, pulling him back.

He was afraid that if he took a leap, he would be unable to catch up.

Then she whispered a warning: "Young Master Yi, you must not fight him."

"Oh? His martial arts skills are very high?"

"no."

Zhou Yi looked curious. Seeing her head slightly lowered, he looked down at her expression and continued to ask, "What's the reason?"

"He is me"

He stopped abruptly, unwilling to say any more.

Zhou Yi didn't insist, and instead of going to the back mountain, he turned back to the study he had been in before.

Shang Xiuxun lagged behind him by a step as she walked along the corridor. Under the illumination of the palace lanterns, the interplay of light and shadow cast a shadow of melancholy over her elegant and bright face.

Staring at his retreating figure, she finally broke the silence after returning to her study.

Are you angry?

Zhou Yi said nonchalantly, "How could that be? I'm just like any other person, driven by curiosity. Since that person meant no harm and touched on your worries, I naturally won't ask any more questions."

Shang Xiuxun sighed softly; she would never believe him.

She runs a ranch and deals with shrewd people from all walks of life; she is quick-witted.

If someone else said that, she wouldn't care even if they were unhappy.

Seeing him silently eating his pastries, she felt a surge of annoyance, yet she couldn't help but speak up, revealing something she absolutely didn't want to mention to outsiders:

“That old man is my father, but I don’t want to acknowledge him.”

After saying that, he moved the plate in front of Zhou Yi over and offered him cake to ease his worries.

She took one cake in each hand, then picked up the last cake from the jade plate, took a bite of each, and told Zhou Yi that there was nothing left to eat.

At this moment, she wasn't some self-admiring beauty queen, but rather like an angry little girl.

Shang Xiuxun secretly glanced at him.

Seeing that he didn't make a fuss or show any surprise or shock, he simply nodded slightly.

He seemed to be an excellent listener.

So she broke off a large piece of a pastry she had never tried before and gave it to him: "Young Master Yi, aren't you curious anymore?"

"I was curious, but I didn't dare to ask."

Zhou Yi took the pastries and said seriously, "I'm afraid if you ask again, I won't be able to enjoy any of my good banquets, and the sweet wine will turn into bitter wine."

Shang Xiuxun spat lightly and glared at him with displeasure.

"I'm not that petty."

However, knowing that he said it on purpose, she felt more at ease when she relaxed.

Shang Xiuxun shifted her gaze from the study to the outside.

She paused for a moment, then said with sadness and longing:

“My mother told me that the old man had been at the ranch for nearly thirty years. Over time, they developed feelings for each other. But my mother was deceived by him and has been saddened for more than twenty years.”

His mother was by his side, but the old man was always thinking about his old flame, unable to forget her, and disregarding his mother's feelings.

"so."

She bit her lower lip, her voice tinged with anger: "That's what caused my mother to pass away in despair."

Having said that, a few more words won't hurt.

Turning to Zhou Yi, he said again:
"That man thought himself the smartest person in the world, but he didn't know that my mother was very perceptive and knew everything. I often spent time with my mother, and it was she who taught me how to manage the ranch and mountain town. Others didn't know how sad she was in secret, but I always saw it."

Although Zhou Yi knew the general idea, he heard from Shang Xiuxun that Lao Lu was indeed quite a scoundrel.

"Does that old man not usually care about you?"

"Pays little attention."

Shang Xiuxun gave a low hum:
"He has a wide range of interests. He is the most versatile person in the world. He is proficient in martial arts, medicine, gardening, architecture, military strategy, disguise, astronomy, calendrical calculation and mechanical engineering. Others would spend their whole lives studying one of these things, but he has a wide range of interests. How could he have time to care about me?"

He would only offer a few words of concern. After I grew up and understood my mother's suffering, I stopped talking to him. I also had to learn to handle all the affairs of the ranch, so I had less interaction with him.

After my mother left, he finally realized his mistake and tried to explain himself to me, but I never wanted to talk to him again.

Shang Xiuxun seemed to see right through her father: "He's the kind of person who only learns to cherish things after he's lost them."

Zhou Yi chimed in, "When everything is beyond repair, it's too late to wake up."

This was the first time Shang Xiuxun had confided these thoughts to anyone, even her relatives at the ranch, whom she had never heard her talk about before.

Expressing the pent-up sorrow in my heart made me feel a little better.

"Young Master Yi, do you think my attitude was inappropriate?"

"No, you can ignore him if you don't want to. However, you are right about one thing."

"Which point?"

"He seems to have come to some realization, knowing that some things should be cherished before they are lost. Now that I think about it, he was probably near the bird park to secretly protect you."

Shang Xiuxun hummed in agreement:
“When he learned that I was in trouble, he did come to me to offer to help, but when I thought of my mother, I didn’t want to talk to him.”

Zhou Yi nodded: "I'm here now, so it doesn't matter if you ignore him."

Seeing him toss the last small piece of pastry into his mouth, Shang Xiuxun spoke in a flat tone:
"What martial arts master dares to trespass into this mountain city? If he comes again, I'll make sure he can't escape."

Zhou Yi smiled when he saw her staring at him.

"These words are somewhat exaggerated, Miss Shang, please don't take them seriously. Even if it's a top expert, I don't have that ability. However, I will do my best to help you with the trouble here."

Shang Xiuxun's heart trembled slightly, and her gaze shifted and focused several times.

Amidst the ebb and flow of his thoughts, he managed to suppress the emotions he had just felt while discussing the old man on the back mountain.

Ignoring Zhou Yi's words, she stared at the empty jade disc and regretted not leaving him a few more pieces.

He then stood up and said, "I'll go get you some more pastries."

"No need, I'll eat it next time."

Zhou Yi was very bold. He pointed towards the back mountain and asked, "Can I go to the back mountain and have a chat with this old man?"

"you"

Shang Xiuxun hesitated for a few moments: "Go ahead, but don't mention the ranch to him. If he asks about me, ignore him. And don't fight with him."

"If you discuss martial arts and military strategy with him, and there's anything that interests you, ask him to give you the secret manuals or military treatises. Just say that I told you."

After speaking, she turned her face slightly to the side.

Zhou Yi noticed that the hostess's attitude had softened somewhat.

It seems that Lao Lu's secret protection over the past few days has played a role.

"it is good."

Zhou Yi responded, and Shang Xiuxun then asked, "Where are you staying right now?"

"Oh, Chen Ruiyang arranged a pavilion just below the inner fortress. It's not only elegant, but also offers a panoramic view of the mountain city."

After Zhou Yi finished speaking, Shang Xiuxun knew where it was.

"Don't stay there, come with me."

Before he could refuse, Shang Xiuxun led the way, accompanied by a faint fragrance.

The Bird Garden is located in the center of the inner fortress. It is not only extremely large, but all the gardens were designed by Master Lu, showing his ingenuity.

In the southeast of the garden, next to the second hall, just past a corridor, there is a pond with a spring, winding its way through, which under the lamplight looks like a jade belt floating in the light.

That was the tallest pavilion in the inner fortress.

A few feet of banana trees stood to the front, their new green leaves splashed like spilled ink. Several clumps of bamboo cast shadows, swaying and brushing against the steps.

Zhou Yi followed closely behind, and looked up to see the three characters "Cuihuang Pavilion". On both sides were exquisite latticed windows, and a wooden staircase wound its way up.

The top floor is a tea-drinking and scenic viewing platform, while the four floors below contain only one room.

“You can stay here. Not only will the scenery be better and you won’t be disturbed, but it’s also very close to my garden. If there’s anything good to eat in the kitchen, I can invite you to try it.”

Shang Xiuxun pushed open the bedroom door, revealing an extremely elegant interior.

But just by looking at the rosewood and fine gauze, the palace lanterns and octagonal glass lanterns, and the calligraphy, paintings and ancient swords hanging on the walls, one can tell that everything is precious.

The inner fort is located at the highest point of the mountain town, built on a cliff, making it the highest point in the town. Through the open windows, one can see the lights of the mountain town and the faint shimmer of the lake in the pasture. Everything is right in front of you.

Zhou Yi looked at a pear blossom desk and saw a painting brush and inkstone on it, made of lapis lazuli and cinnabar, with silk cloth pressed under the inkstone.

It's like someone wants to paint, but doesn't dare to put pen to paper.

Is it suitable for me to live here?

Zhou Yi looked at Shang Xiuxun, who then lit another lamp: "What's inappropriate about it? This isn't my boudoir, and no one has ever lived here before."

Zhou Yi glanced at the bed; it was neat and clean, and certainly didn't look like anyone had lived there.

Shang Xiuxun was trimming the lamp with her back to him.

As the palace lanterns drew near, the beautiful hostess blushed, exuding charm, but unfortunately, Master Zhou had no chance to see her.

When she turned around, her face was calm.

Shang Xiuxun told him to rest, said she would talk again tomorrow, and then left Cuihuang Pavilion and headed towards the center of Fei Niao Garden.

She went straight back to her room.

She usually stayed in the west wing, but this time, she carried a fragrant quilt to the second floor on the south side.

As I lay down to rest inside, I looked out the east-facing window and could see the distant lights—the very lights on the fourth floor of the Cuihuang Pavilion.

She turned the lamp on before she left, and now you can see it very clearly.

During this period, due to the troublesome situation around Jingling, coupled with Yang Guang's southward march and the resulting chaos in the country, people's hearts were in turmoil and they were looking for change, so the ranch business was very different from before.

More powerful bandits and thieves attacked the mountain city, many of whom possessed extraordinary martial arts skills.

Having a treasure mountain but lacking the power to possess it, I always feel uneasy.

Shang Xiuxun stared at the lamp, and that night, she slept very peacefully.

The lights in Cuihuang Pavilion remained on, but a figure had already left the fourth floor, leaping straight towards the back mountain.
Zhou Yi passed through a bamboo forest and heard the sound of rushing water. At the end of the forest was a square pavilion, facing a cliff hundreds of feet high. A waterfall cascaded down the opposite cliff, making a thunderous sound.

Follow the gravel path deeper into the woods.

After turning left and right, the view suddenly opens up, and there is a small building built on the edge of the cliff.

The lights are on on the second floor.

The lamp must have had no wind shield, as it swayed constantly, causing the shadows inside to sway left and right.

Zhou Yi did not stop walking, and the people in the pavilion had already heard him.

"Young brother."

The voice paused for a moment, as if about to call out "little brother," but then coughed and said:

"Boy, your lightness skill is so superb, how come you walk so slowly? If you are any later, you will miss out on my six-fruit juice."

Old Lu is quite vengeful. Zhou Yi smiled and took a few steps up to the attic.

The plaque upstairs reads "Peaceful Nest," and wooden plaques hang on the left and right beams, bearing the couplet: "In the morning, one should tune the zither; in the evening, one should play the se; old friends arrive just in time, and new friends arrive just in time."

The interior furnishings are somewhat similar to those of Cuihuang Pavilion, but the tables and chairs are made of rosewood, giving it an elegant and noble style.

Upon entering, one sees a refined old man in a wide robe sitting at a table, arranging wine cups and goblets. The air in the pavilion is filled with the fragrance of fruit, which even the evening breeze cannot dispel.

Lu Miaozi stared intently at the doorway, and the aura of awe and reverence emanating from him immediately vanished.

Finally, I could see the face of that 'bastard'.

Seeing his handsome appearance and composed demeanor, dressed in green robes with a sword at his side, a slight smile on his lips, he possessed a shrewdness that seemed to see through everything, yet he also exuded a lofty and refined air, instantly surpassing this melancholy loner in his comfort zone.

He thought of his daughter, and then of her mother, and sighed inwardly.

"Mr. Lu."

Zhou Yi bowed slightly and, guided by Lu Miaozi, sat down opposite him.

As soon as he sat down, Lu Miaozi pushed a cup of wine towards him.

"I guessed you would come tonight. Let's drink and sing, for life is short, alas, let's drink."

The two did not clink glasses, but drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing that Zhou Yi was still savoring the wine after finishing it, Lu Miaozi smiled on his aged face: "How was my wine?"

The moment this fruit wine touches your throat, it has a mellow, smooth, and refreshing taste. Most importantly, its aroma is rich and harmonious, leaving you with an endless aftertaste.

No wonder the beautiful owner of the venue is a foodie, and the old man is even more knowledgeable about food.

"Good wine."

Zhou Yi reminisced: "The wine you made used six kinds of fresh fruits: pomegranate, hawthorn, grape, orange, plum, and pineapple. You blended the flavors of these six fruits perfectly. It is simply a marvel of nature."

He asked with a smile, "Is there any more wine?"

"Gone."

Lu Miaozi shook his head directly. Although it was quite rare for this kid to be able to appreciate its flavor, he suddenly didn't want to give it to him.

"pity."

Zhou Yi sighed softly, "Xiuxun is out of luck."

Upon hearing this, Lu Miaozi's refined and handsome old face showed a hint of helplessness: "You brat, did Xiuxun tell you everything about me?"

Zhou Yi nodded.

"She has always been reluctant to talk about me, so it's rare for her to tell you."

Lu Miaozi gave him a deep look: "What's your name? Where are you from? Who is your teacher?"

"My name is Zhou Yi, my ancestral home is Yongqiu, and I am a disciple of Jiao Wuzi."

When the name Jiao Wuzi was mentioned, Zhou Yi watched Lu Miaozi's reaction.

The old man stroked his beard, a thoughtful expression on his face: "How come I don't remember such a sage?"

Zhou Yi really wanted to ask Xiang Yutian about it, but meeting him now felt too abrupt.

Lu Miaozi never expected that Zhou Yi would mention his identity as the Taiping Heavenly Master so briefly.

I appreciate Zhou Yi's honesty, and I can't help but recall Qingya's words about the ranch's ancestral precepts.

If my daughter truly harbors such thoughts, then her identity as the Taiping Heavenly Master alone would be enough to violate all the ancestral precepts.

Lu Miaozi took another sip of wine, and in the blink of an eye, he completely forgot about the ancestral precepts of the ranch.

My mind is filled with endless regret.

His breathing became unstable whenever his emotions fluctuated.

Zhou Yi then asked, "Mr. Lu, are you injured?"

"Impressive, you could even spot that."

Lu Miaozi said, "Nearly thirty years ago, the witch injured me with her Heavenly Demon Skill. I used the mountain terrain to escape thousands of miles away. I also deliberately created a false impression, making her think that I had fled overseas, but I had actually come here to hide. I then devoted myself to the mountains, rivers and gardens, which is why I did not cause any harm."

"However, I have been preoccupied with Xiuxun lately, and thinking of her mother, I am filled with remorse. My old wounds are hard to suppress, and I may not live for more than a month."

He took it lightly when it came to his limited time, showing little sadness.

"Heavenly Demon Art? Is this witch Empress Yin?"

Lu Miaozi was slightly moved: "You've seen her?"

"Yes."

Seeing his reaction, Zhou Yi continued, "A few months ago, Shi Zhixuan appeared at Longxing Temple, where Zhu Yuyan was hunting him down, and a great battle broke out." He had intended to gloss over it, but seeing that he seemed somewhat engrossed, he continued.

So he recounted the Battle of Longxing Temple in detail.

"Mr. Lu, are you still obsessed with the Queen of the Underworld?"

Zhou Yi felt that the simp was beyond saving.

Lu Miaozi sighed, her eyes filled with regret:

"In the final moments of Qingya's life, I only regretted that I did not cherish the person in front of me. As for Empress Yin, so many years have passed, I can't say I hate her. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have been able to spend more than 20 years with Qingya."

Unfortunately, time cannot be turned back, and we cannot relive it.

In his distress, he suddenly smiled nonchalantly and raised his glass to Zhou Yi:
"You are very young and do not have the same feelings as this old man, but you must remember to cherish the present and not leave regrets for the future."

Zhou Yi also raised his glass, continuing what he had said when he first drank:

"With deep sorrow and lingering worries, how can I dispel my grief? Only with wine."

This fruit wine is even more delicious; it should soothe sorrow. Sir, you should cherish these final moments of your life. To die in despair is hardly a good thing.

"Hahaha!"

Lu Miaozi chuckled and said, "You are more insightful than I am."

The two drank one cup, then three more.

When Lu Miaozi brought over another jar of fruit wine, Zhou Yi had reason to suspect that he wanted to get him drunk and then extract information from him.

Lu Miaozi asked as she lifted the wine cup:

How did you and Xiuxun meet?

"We met by the roadside, but it was only a fleeting encounter."

"Oh? What then?"

Then, wild geese carried letters, and correspondence was exchanged back and forth.

Lu Miaozi stroked his beard and sighed:
"A letter carried by a wild goose's foot stops at a foot of silk. A letter sent far away by a fish is no more than a few lines. Yet even the smallest words can express profound emotions."

"Alas, I too had some things I wanted to say to Qingya back then, but I couldn't express them on my own. As the saying goes, 'Words are insufficient to express deep feelings,' I should have written something for her. Perhaps, then that regret would have been gone."

Even if it's just a letter, it's still not enough to be perfunctory in one's heart.

Zhou Yi wanted to argue, but seeing his expression, she decided against it.

Lu Miaozi, slightly tipsy, asked again what they discussed in their letters.

Zhou Yi mentioned painting.

Old Lu perked up and started chatting with him about his paintings.

When they heard that Zhou Yi had sold a landscape painting for 500 gold coins, their eyes widened in surprise, as they had never imagined that his artistry was so exquisite.

They started talking about paintings and then moved on to martial arts.

He told Zhou Yi about his proudest "one that has escaped," which resonated with Zhou Yi.

Perhaps it was because we had drunk too much, but we got along very well.

Lu Miaozi actually changed the way he addressed him from the impolite "Zhou boy" to "little brother", and then to "little friend".

"With your skill, even if you were ambushed by the Empress Yin, more than twenty years have passed. You should be able to neutralize the Heavenly Demon True Qi."

When discussing martial arts, Zhou Yi raised this question.

Lu Miaozi said somewhat ashamedly, "At first, it could be dissolved, but I..."

"You couldn't bear to part with it?" Zhou Yi's body trembled.

"Although I broke off with Yin Hou, we were truly in love at the time. I thought I could control a bit of demonic energy, but I didn't expect that after it entered my meridians, it took root in my acupoints and became a chronic disease. By the time I realized it, it was too late to do anything but destroy all my power."

Zhou Yi had no time to mock him and immediately said:

"Let me heal your wounds."

Lu Miaozi was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, knowing that he meant well, neither discouraging him nor refusing him.

He relaxed his mind and let Zhou Yi press his palm force down from behind.

After a short while, Zhou Yi withdrew his hand and fell into deep thought.

Lu Miaozi then said, "This demonic energy is deeply embedded in my acupoints and has merged with my true energy. It has already grown strong. If it could be eliminated, I would have already gone to find Ning Daoqi."

"Indeed, no one can save him."

Zhou Yi's voice carried a hint of helplessness as he continued:

"Before you pass away, you should leave a letter for Xiuxun, and tell her all the things you want to say."

"That's exactly what I meant."

"..."

Zhou Yi finished speaking, saying he would visit again another day. Carrying two jars of fruit wine, he returned to the Flying Bird Garden under Lu Miaozi's watchful gaze.
The next day, it was sunny.

The sun was already scorching hot even before it reached its zenith.

The ranch's head steward, Shang Zhen, entered the inner fortress and inquired with several maids, learning that the ranch owner was on the roof of the Cuihuang Tower.

The owner usually resides in the Bird Garden, and only stays at the Emerald Pavilion occasionally.

They usually only enjoy the view from the top floor.

Shang Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the venue owner's mood should have calmed down.

His face darkened at the thought of Li Mi and his gang.

I was delayed by a visitor this morning, so I need to quickly tell him about Young Master Zhou, the Li family, and set a time to discuss important matters with the visitor.

Led by his maid, Shang Zhen quickened his pace.

As he approached the top floor, he heard voices and was startled.

When I got to the top of the attic, I immediately saw this scene.

Light gauze curtains fluttered around the attic, and two jars of wine sat on the central table, emitting a fruity aroma. The owner was handing pastries to the person opposite him.

Upon seeing him arrive, the owner suppressed his smile and withdrew his hand.

Shang Zhen's heart skipped a beat; he thought to himself that the timing was terrible.

He glanced at the young man again, inwardly complaining.

You're eating and drinking here, do I need to announce your presence?

"What is it?" Shang Xiuxun asked.

The head steward set aside the matter of Young Master Zhou and began to speak of other visitors:

"Owner, we couldn't reach an agreement last time, and it's been dragging on for several days now. You'll need to set another time."

After thinking for a while, Shang Xiuxun was about to make a decision directly, but then she glanced at Zhou Yi, wanting to hear his opinion.

Zhou Yi said, "You set the time; there's no need to drag this out with them any longer."

"Then tomorrow."

After Shang Xiuxun finished speaking, Shang Zhen said:
"Following Li Gang and Dou Wei, the Li clan has sent more people, and this time they are your friends."

"Xiuning?"

"Yes, in addition to that, there is Chai Shao, and the second young master of the Li family has also come here in person."

Even Zhou Yi was surprised. Why was the Li family in such a hurry?

Who else was traveling with them?

Shang Zhen turned around, and although it wasn't the arena owner asking him a question, he still used the arena owner's tone:

"With three masters—Yuchi Jingde, Du Ruhui, and Pang Yu—there are no mediocre people among the rest."

Shang Xiuxun hadn't expected so many people from the Li clan to come: "I need to find out their purpose. I'll explain tomorrow's arrangements to you tonight."

Zhou Yi smiled gently: "Go ahead and get busy."

Shang Xiuxun turned and left, and Shang Zhen bowed slightly to Zhou Yi before following closely behind.

When the owner returned, it was already completely dark.

She arrived at the top of Cuihuang Tower, where Zhou Yi was meditating and practicing his martial arts.

Then, the two talked about the banquet the next day.

As night deepened, Shang Xiuxun came down from the pavilion, glanced back, and then walked back to the Bird Garden.

The moon sets and the sun rises.

The main hall of the inner fortress of Feima Mountain City was bustling with activity today.

The head steward, Shang Zhen, sat on one side of the ranch, with the four stewards behind him.

Liang Zhi, Liu Zongdao, Tao Shusheng, and Wu Zhaoru were all seated beside the main seat, following Shang Zhen.

The maidservant responsible for serving tea and water was extremely cautious, because the people on her left and right were all extraordinary figures.

To the right of the guest is a member of the Li clan.

The young man at the head of the group had an impressive air about him, and he and the beautiful young woman beside him were sizing up Li Mi's men.

Xu Shiji sat in the third seat, and the young gentleman in front of him was Li Tianfan, the son of Li Mi.

At the head of the table sat an elderly man with sharp eyes. His eyebrows and beard were half black and half white, and his breathing was exceptionally long.

The three top experts on Li's side—Yuchi Jingde, Du Ruhui, and Pang Yu—were also wary when they saw this person.

The people were not very clear about his background.

Du Ruhui focused his voice into a line and said:
"This person comes from the Leizhou Peninsula and can be considered a member of the South China Sea Sect, of a very high seniority. Even Mei Xun, the leader of the South China Sea Sect, would have to address him as Grandmaster Uncle. I don't know his name; everyone just calls him Lei Bazhou."

Chai Shao's gaze swept over Xu Shiji, who was sitting next to him. The two infamous duo from Changbai Mountain, Fu Zhen and Fu Yan, were renowned throughout the northern desert.

Further behind was a middle-aged couple.

The moment Chai Shao's gaze fell upon him, the man and woman both fixed their eyes on him.

It was like two fierce jackals eyeing a wild rabbit.

Chai Shaosheng felt as if he were facing a formidable enemy, and quickly averted his gaze from the two men, landing on Chen Tianyue, who was sitting at the end of the table.

This person is a master of the Huashan Sect, and Chai Shao recognizes him.

"Brother Du, you are knowledgeable and experienced. Do you know who the man and woman sitting between the Changbai Twins and Chen Tianyue are?"

"Young Master Chai, I don't recognize these two people either."

The Li siblings exchanged a glance, realizing they had missed a lot of information.

They had a good understanding of the Pusan ​​public enterprise.

The three—Changbai Shuangxiong, Chen Tianyue, and the others—were all within expectations.

While information about Lei Bazhou and the couple was scarce, the presence of these three top experts was not to be overlooked.

Their immense power is something that cannot be resolved in the present moment.

The situation in the world changed too quickly, the moment Yang Guang left Luoyang.

Li's family immediately took action to prepare for the trip to Pegasus Ranch.

Originally, it was just Li Xiuning and Chai Shao who came with Li Gang and Dou Wei.

At this moment, the second young master brought three more top experts from the Li clan.

Little did they expect that Li Mi's side would have so many troublesome figures.

As they were each lost in their own thoughts, footsteps came from behind the first hall of the inner fortress.

Shang Xiuxun's attire was simple and elegant, but it still couldn't hide her naturally beautiful and captivating appearance.

She sat in the main seat, unaffected by the Li family and the experts from Pushan Public Estate. Her phoenix eyes were deep, exuding the majesty of a ranch owner.

The inner fortress was surrounded by Pegasus Ranch's forces, as the four major bandits were stirring up trouble on the west side, and the mountain city was always on high alert.

Once the attack begins, a large army will immediately surround the inner fortress.

Li Tianfan looked at Shang Xiuxun, then at Li Xiuning, and said with a smile, "Friends of the Li family, the owner has arrived. What business are you here to discuss?"

Li Shimin remained silent, but Li Xiuning spoke first:

“We have always had a good relationship with the owner of the farm, so naturally we are here to help deal with the big bandits.”

Li Tianfan laughed:
"You all have good intentions, but the Li clan is far away in Guanzhong. I'm afraid you can't be of much help on your own."

His tone was arrogant, and Chai Shao laughed out loud:

"Are you speaking on behalf of Li Mi or Wagangzhai? Even Zhai Rang, the chief leader, wouldn't utter such thoughtless remarks."

"No and no."

An aged voice completely drowned out Chai Shao's words.

The old man at the very top left said:
"In this day and age, masters are emerging in great numbers, and extraordinary books and techniques are appearing in the world. Our South Sea Sect has also obtained the longevity technique. The Immortal Elder is currently studying the longevity method and said that this is a great era for martial arts, which cannot be viewed with ordinary eyes. The turmoil of the martial world will inevitably overshadow everything, and under the power of an individual, everything will become fragmented."

He smiled confidently: "The Li family is powerful, and what Young Master Chai said makes some sense. It's a pity that they stick to the old ways and don't change anything. If they continue down this path, the decline of aristocratic families is just around the corner."

Upon hearing the words "method of immortality," Li Shimin was deeply moved.

Shang Zhen and the others were also surprised, not expecting the old man to say such a thing.

Du Ruhui was not to be outdone:
"Since the Immortal Elder is comprehending the method of immortality, why doesn't Senior Lei go into seclusion with him? Wouldn't it be a waste of time to wander in the mortal world?"

The old man laughed again: "It seems your martial arts level is still not high enough."

"I entered the mortal world to hone my skills, to refine my mind and spirit. Once I have succeeded, I will naturally go into seclusion. The Immortal Elder has already comprehended some of the secrets of the ultimate martial arts from the Longevity Method. It was after seeing these things that my mind became unstable, which is why I came here. Do you understand?"

Li Tianfan glanced at Lei Bazhou. Was this merely to suppress the Li family members?
As one of his own, he couldn't immediately tell whether what the other person was saying was true or false.

Li Shimin, who had been silent, suddenly spoke:
"Mr. Lei, the person who often talks about the ultimate martial arts comes from Nanyang. Is the Immortal of the South Sea now a guest in his coffin?"

"Second Young Master, please do not speak recklessly."

Lei Bazhou revealed a fierce look and decided not to discuss the topic any further.

Actually, a short, stout man once came to the South China Sea and even talked with the immortal.

The short, fat man was very honest. The immortal used the bamboo slips of the Longevity Manual to get him to talk. Although it was for the secret of martial arts, it was still embarrassing to talk about it.

The Immortal Elder of the South Sea, His Dharma Vehicle Arrives in the Central Plains.

This was bound to happen sooner or later; why should we damage our own reputation?

Therefore, Lei Bazhou changed the subject: "Among those threatening the ranch is a martial arts master. If this person is detrimental to the ranch owner, and if the ranch owner continues to live in this inner fortress, no matter how well you defend, there will be loopholes."

"So, you can't help with this."

Lei Bazhou's words were obviously an exaggeration, but Li Tianfan went along with it and said:
“That’s right, we can arrange suitable personnel to provide close protection for the owner.”

Li Tianfan pointed to the middle-aged woman next to the Changbai Twins, and the woman smiled upon hearing this.

Her smile gives people a kind and simple feeling.

However, it was completely at odds with her temperament.

Shang Xiuxun, observing people's expressions, would never believe Li Tianfan's words.

If that's the case, I'm afraid they'll take us under their control.

"I appreciate your kind offer, but my ranch operates on a purely business-oriented basis. Today, we will not discuss anything other than business matters."

As soon as Shang Xiuxun spoke, the Li family members were slightly taken aback.

Xu Shiji frowned deeply, then relaxed, and glanced at Shang Xiuxun. Where did the ranch get its confidence in just a few days?

Li Tianfan laughed:
"Don't speak ill of me, Master. I was impetuous that day. My invitation to drink and chat was merely out of admiration."

Before he could finish speaking, Butler Shang Zhen interrupted:
"Young Master Li, the owner said that we'll only discuss business."

Li Tianfan's smile was somewhat stiff. He glanced at Tao Shusheng, the third steward of the ranch, but received no response.

Looking at the other deacons of the ranch, they were not as composed as Shang Zhen.

Li Tianfan immediately concluded that they were faking it.

“Okay, I want to buy 10,000 horses from the ranch.”

Shang Xiuxun said:

"Ten thousand horses are nothing, but the rules cannot be changed. Each year, we have a limit on the number of horses we can sell to various forces. Even if Zhai Dalong comes here, he can't buy more than a thousand horses."

Furthermore, ten thousand horses would cost at least fifty thousand gold coins. Can you afford that?

Li Tianfan immediately replied, "Rules are rigid, but they can be changed, especially for business people, who need to be flexible."

"As for the 50,000 gold coins, we can pay it in installments, and we will increase the interest if we delay."

"If you agree, we can even help the ranch deal with the bandits."

"What's the venue owner's plan?"

On Li Tianfan's side, everyone looked at Shang Xiuxun.

Instantly, a powerful aura pressed down.

However.
Just as this imposing aura touched Shang Xiuxun, a hearty laugh drifted over.

The beautiful hostess relaxed completely, while Shang Zhen looked on with amusement.

"Li Mi owes debts and yet has money to buy horses? How can this be?"

……

(End of this chapter)